Geoffrey Chaucer and The Canterbury Tales: Pilgrims, Context, and Literary Terms

Geoffrey Chancher

The Father of English Poetry

What languages did they speak?

People spoke Middle English, but the literature was still Latin and French.

Why did people not speak English?

People felt that English couldn't convey the complexities of other languages.

What's significant about Chancer

Chancer was the first who had status that wrote poetry in English.

Life of Chancer

Father of a wine merchant, inherited money from dead relatives who died from the Plague

What job did Geoffrey get

To become a messenger for the king

Giovanni Biccacio

The Decameron

The Decameron

A group of people who fled plague ridden Florence and told stories to past time.

Canterbury Tales

Group of people on a religious pilgrimage that consisted of 29 people who were telling stories to pass time.

Framing a story

A story within a story

St. Thomas Beckett

Became a martyr in 1170, excommunicated 4 priests accused of crimes.

How did King Henry II feel about Beckett's excommunication

Opposed it and sent knights to murder Beckett

Pilgrimage

A journey to visit a grave or relies of a saint

Setting

April, Jabard Inn in London

3 Major Divisions of Pilgrims

Feudal Order, Church, Merchants

The Knight

A truly distinguished man, he never boasts. Most important person.

The Squire

A candidate for knighthood, thinks himself as a ladies man, takes great care of his curly locks

The Yeoman

Expert Woodsman that's a servant to the knight and squire, good with bow and arrow

The Prioress

A mother who never forgets she's a lady and is superior of a convent, wears a bracelet that says "Amor Vinvit Omnia"

What does "Amor Vinvit Omnia" mean?

Love conquers all

The Monk

In charge of outlying property favored by the outdoor life, everything done by him is a violation

The Friar

Seen as an extortionist

The Merchant

A member of the rising middle class, talks and looks solemn, deep in debt.

Oxford Cleric

Starving college student focused on education, most admired next to the knight

Sergeant of the Law

Served as the local king advisor, narrow minded, seen as busier

The Franklin

Land owner, loved to eat and entertain, eats sop

Harberdasher, Dyer, Carpente, Weaver, and Carpet Maker

All belonged to a guild, powerful organizations, part of the middle class, wore uniforms, ridicules their wives

The Cook

Has an open sore on his knee, Chaucer says he is concerned about his sore

The Skipper or Shipman

A huge man, looked like a fish out of water when riding a horse

The Physician

Could quote all the medical books, but didn't know the bible, liked to preserve money

The Wife of Bath

Somewhat deaf, married 5 times, always first in line in the offering, knew all remedias of love

The Parson

Very poor, but rich, principle was to lead the perfect life first then teach it, an ideal priest, Christian man

The Plowman

Small Tenant Farmer, Chaucer says he lives in perfect peace

The Miller

Big browny man, outwrestle man, "thumb of gold"

The Manciple

Steward for law school, not educated but outsmarts lawyers, self-made

The Reeve

Manager of a large estate and made lots of money from it, his workers don't like him being demanding

The Summoner

Paid to summon sinners to church, would ignore the summons if paid, acquainted with ladies with not good reputations, ugly

The Pardoner

Sold pardoners for the church, described as gelding, one of the most corrupt people, not really a man

The Host

Owner of the Takard Inn, will ride along and act as the judge